Missions Walk - Addingham

On Saturday 25th June approximatley 28 of us gathered at Addingham Junior School Car Park for a circular walk in the countryside around Addingham. This was the annual Circuit Missions Walk and there were representatives from the various Methodist Churches in the Otley & Aireborough Circuit and the Ilkley Circuit which are combining together from 1st September.

The walk initially followed the River Wharfe on part of the Dales Way before turning off near Fairfield Hall owned by the Duke & Duchess of Devonshire (The Queen has actually stayed here on occasions when she has been in Yorkshire) up by Newlands Gill and then near to Chelker Reservoir we turned south east and crossed the golf course where we descended back into Addingham for lunch and refreshments at Addingham Methodist Church.


Pictures of the walk (with captions where appropriate) are below.




Gathering in the Car Park prior to the walk.










Anglea, Senior Circuit Steward for Ilkley and Howard, Senior Circuit Steward for Otley & Aireborough having a chat.






The Addingham Manse.






Crossing towards the river.











First view of the River Wharfe.










One of the traditional field barns.












Following the Dales Way.












The Friends Meeting House near to Fairfield Hall.






The group ready to restart after a short drinks break.





A friendly horse near Syke House Farm.











The final climb up towards Chelker.








Views down to the River Wharfe and Bolton Abbey.










Young Evie (2½ years old) is still doing very well.






Beamsley Beacon.





Fred dealing with Evie's cut finger.





View across Wharfedale.






Simon's Seat and Earl's Seat.







Below High Laithe Farm







Crossing the Golf Course.










A pony on the descent into Addingham.






Addingham Methodist Chapel.







Lunch and a time to chat with each other.





















The exterior of the Chapel.






The former Chapel, now turned into flats.

Thruscross & Barden Moor Walk

On Saturday 18th June five friends from our Church 1812 Group and I had an enjoyable 3½ hour walk (9 miles) from the Car Park by Thruscross Reservoir, along part of the Dales Way link over Barden Moor to Rocking Hall where we had lunch and then returned via Foulgate Bank and Stoney Gate Top to the River Washburn and back along the side of the reservoir.

Pictures below (some with captions, where appropriate) show our day out in the beautiful Washburn Valley part of the Yorkshire Dales.




Thruscross Reservoir at the start of the walk.






Sheep safely grazing.





An old disused farm cottage.







Heading over the moor.



































Some high stiles to negotiate.







View back across to Menwith Hill.







A barn converted to a refreshment dining area for the landed gentry during their shooting activities on the moor.







Shooting butt.







Stone with glacial scouring on the surface.







Surveying the route we had walked so far.








A moorland tarn.







The "Rocking Stone" near Rocking Hall.







Nick testing its stability.







Scouring and etchings on the stone.












The group looking for a suitable place for lunch.







Departing after lunch for the walk along Bank Edge and across The Great Stray.








View across to Thruscross Reservoir.








A direct line across the moor.













Local farmers out fence repairing.






A set of marker boundary stones.








Curlew in flight.












The farm track across to the River Washburn.







Cows enjoying the afternoon sunshine.







An old converted mill.







Waterfall at Hoodstorths Lane.







Footbridge over the River Washburn.







The top end of the reservoir. Due to the shortage of rain the reservoir is well down in this part of the valley and some of the old walls from the fields which were covered when the valley was flooded in the mid 60's are starting to reappear.

















The old Chapel on the hill above the reservoir.








The tide mark showing how much the reservoir has dropped in recent months.




























The final stretch along the reservoir back to the car park.